Al Griffin

Sort By: Post Date | Title | Publish Date
Audio Video News
Dirac Live Bass Control Now Available on Select AVRs
Al Griffin  |  Apr 28, 2020
Dirac Live, a room correction technology that Sound & Vision has evaluated recently on several preamp/processors and AVRs, is a feature that lets listeners measure and correct for room-based anomalies using a simple, yet sophisticated interface on PCs/Macs and Android/iOS devices. According to the company, Dirac Live Bass Control, an add-on for Dirac Live that provides bass management for multiple subwoofers, is now available.
Continue Reading >
CES 2019
Dirac Research’s Bass Management Module Goes Live
Al Griffin  |  Jan 10, 2019
Dirac Research is at CES demonstrating its new Dirac Live Bass Management Module. The technology is sourced from the company’s Dirac Live room correction, which is currently available in select NAD A/V receivers and integrated amps.
Continue Reading >
Ask S&V
Direct or Dipolar Speakers for Dolby Atmos?
Al Griffin  |  Nov 17, 2014
Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com

Q I am building out a dedicated 7.2-channel home theater and was planning on buying dipolar surround speakers to help “spray” sound along the side and back walls. After reading a few articles on Dolby Atmos, however, it seems that direct-radiating speakers would be the more appropriate option since they can better pinpoint objects in the room. Am I correct in thinking that direct-radiating speakers would serve better in an Atmos environment, or do I have things totally wrong? —Adam Tremai / via e-mail

Continue Reading >
CES 2014
DJI: Own Your Own Drone
Al Griffin  |  Jan 07, 2014
Drones are big news these days (a recent 60 Minutes piece on Amazon’s drone package-delivery plans drove the hype machine to full throttle), so it comes as no surprise that drones—or Unmanned Aerial Systems, as manufacturers of consumer-grade drones like to call them—are a category here at CES. One maker, DJI, even held a press conference to introduce its new Phantom 2 Vision, a quadcopter with a built-in 14 megapixel camera capable of recording 1080p video (4 GB micro SD card included).
Continue Reading >
Other Tech
DLP vs. LCD
Al Griffin  |  Jun 07, 2005

Everybody wants a monster-size HDTV, so it came as no surprise when readers wrote in asking for head-to-head comparisons of the big-screen HDTV technologies. The first round came with "Plasma vs. LCD" (February/March, available on the S&V Web site). After reading our unflinching test of those popular types of hang-on-the-wall TVs, you asked to see LCD take on DLP.

Continue Reading >
Ask S&V
Do 1080p TVs Downconvert 4K Video Signals?
Al Griffin  |  Jul 31, 2014
Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com

Q I recently went to my local electronics store to check out the TVs. Every set, whether 4K or 1080p, was displaying 4K programming, and I have to say that even the 1080p sets looked great when showing 4K. Here’s my question: Do 1080p TVs downscale 4K video, or does the 4K server perform that function before passing the signal on to the TV? —Bill Carman / via e-mail

Continue Reading >
Ask S&V
Do All 4K Discs Support High Dynamic Range (HDR)?
Al Griffin  |  Mar 12, 2020
Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com

Q I own a Sony UBP-X800 Ultra HD Blu-ray player and want to know if all the 4K discs I buy provide high dynamic range (HDR). I’m also wondering if all 4K discs with HDR deliver it in both the HDR10 and Dolby Vision formats. —Steven Ganno, via email

Continue Reading >
Ask S&V
Do All Blu-ray Players Perform the Same?
Al Griffin  |  Apr 17, 2014
Q I am in the market for a new 3D player and have been looking at the Oppo 103 and 103D.  But the various online forums I’ve visited all say that there is hardly any picture quality difference between the Oppos and other Blu-ray players like those from Sony and Panasonic. Is that true? —Joe Montanez / via email
Continue Reading >
Ask S&V
Do Any Bluetooth Speakers Use Audyssey Processing?
Al Griffin  |  Jul 11, 2019
Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com

Q Are there any powered Bluetooth speakers on the market that use Audyssey or similar technologies? I have Audyssey Dynamic EQ available in my main listening area and I enjoy being able to listen at lower volume levels without losing proper frequency balance. It would be nice to have this ability in other rooms and also when I travel. —Dallas Holston, via email

Continue Reading >
Ask S&V
Do Any Home Video Releases Have 7.1.4 Sound?
Al Griffin  |  Oct 12, 2017
A Are there any home video releases with 7.1.4-channel sound? I find that most movies have 5.1-channel soundtracks? —J. Kevin Sexton / via e-mail
Continue Reading >

Pages

X